RealGM

https://www.fiba.basketball/world/u19/2023

The tournament is starting tomorrow. Hungary is the host country. USA and Spain are heavy favorites. Dark horses are France and Serbia. FIBA Youtube Channel will broadcast games live.

Risacher has looked pretty average

Almansa looks like the best player at the tournament. Tre Johnson (2025) has been USA's best player. Cody Williams is the most draft relevant American for this year but doesn't seem to be getting much burn.

Slovenia have almost pulled upset against USA yesterday , they were leading pretty much most of the game but they lost the game in the couple of last minutes of the game.

crows2 wrote:Almansa looks like the best player at the tournament. Tre Johnson (2025) has been USA's best player. Cody Williams is the most draft relevant American for this year but doesn't seem to be getting much burn.

Almansa still looks very raw though. He is only using his physical prowess to score and doesn't seem very skilled. Baba Miller looks like a far better overall player that would translate more easily to a league like the NBA. That said, Almansa obviousy has more time to add to his repertoire.

Almansa keeps things simple, which isn't neccesarily a bad thing. He doesn't posses the offensive versatility or playmaking of Miller but has a nice set of jumphooks and floaters, making him a great P&R finisher. He also seems more comfortable shooting from midrange than before.
Definitely a 1st round prospect IMO.

lambchop wrote:

crows2 wrote:Almansa looks like the best player at the tournament. Tre Johnson (2025) has been USA's best player. Cody Williams is the most draft relevant American for this year but doesn't seem to be getting much burn.

Almansa still looks very raw though. He is only using his physical prowess to score and doesn't seem very skilled. Baba Miller looks like a far better overall player that would translate more easily to a league like the NBA. That said, Almansa obviousy has more time to add to his repertoire.

I wasn't necessarily talking about NBA outlook, more just that Almansa right now is clearly the best player at the tournament. I do disagree with you though; I think Almansa will be a better role player in the NBA than Miller.

FWIW, I don't think Johnson will be USA's best draft prospect. I think Dylan Harper will end up the best from this group, and probably go in the top 3 in 2025.

I've watched several games and it's almost pointless as it pertains to evaluating prospects. Freedom of movement is very limited so you can't really see what kind of athletes they are. Still nice to see some of these guys in action. Tre Johnson and Ian Jackson leap off the screen and seem like by far the best NBA prospects but we're not sending our best to this team so you have to keep that in mind. There's been some flashes from Newell and Williams as well.

why was Aday kept off Spanish team?

I'm just now checking the scores and I'm surprised at what Madagascar has done so far. They beat Lebanon handily (led the game wire-to-wire) and they almost upset Slovenia. Definitely much better than expected. I'll try to catch a game later on. I'm intrigued.

clyde21 wrote:why was Aday kept off Spanish team?

To balance the u18 and u19 squads.
Had they gone all in for the u19, Conrad Martinez and Hugo Gonzalez should be there also.

Nuntius wrote:I'm just now checking the scores and I'm surprised at what Madagascar has done so far. They beat Lebanon handily (led the game wire-to-wire) and they almost upset Slovenia. Definitely much better than expected. I'll try to catch a game later on. I'm intrigued.

Yea props to them for beating Lebanon, but at the same time Lebanon probably just broke a record cause Spain obliterated them 102 to 20 while winning the first quarter 29 to 2 and it would have been 29 to 0 if not for a lucky layup in the final seconds of the quarter. They were up 62 to 6 at some point. So, yea, Madagascar had one good game against Slovenia and managed to beat one of the worst teams in tournament history.

France just beat Madagascar 119 to 56 too. But overall they should still be happy with how things went.

Btw what happened to Urban Klavzar? Dude didn't even make the team. Seems as though he kind of fell off after leaving Madrid and then not getting any playing time with Murcia. Should have chosen a different country to play in.

;ab_channel=FIBA-TheBasketballChannel

USA France 1/2 final now ! 70-66 france 4th quarter starting

Melvyn Ajinça (cousin of former NBA player Alexis Ajinça) is having a hell of a game !

France sends their best and we don't. They were simply too big and long. Our three best players won't be drafted until 2025.

BostonCouchGM wrote:France sends their best and we don't. They were simply too big and long. Our three best players won't be drafted until 2025.

hum, France is missing all the drafted guys. Wemby, Coulibaly, Rupert and Cissoko.

sisibilio wrote:

BostonCouchGM wrote:France sends their best and we don't. They were simply too big and long. Our three best players won't be drafted until 2025.

hum, France is missing all the drafted guys. Wemby, Coulibaly, Rupert and Cissoko.

bro, they've already been drafted lol. Did two people actually upvote this? Too funny. This place never ceases to amaze me

Final Thoughts

France was the most talented team but the officiating was very one-sided and cost them the Final game against Spain. I understand why Risacher has the attention of NBA scouts with his springiness and potential on defense. He also seems to have a decent BBIQ but he might have been the 5th best NBA prospect on the floor today behind Sarr, Almansa, Ajinca, and Perrin. Still a likely first round pick but these mock drafts that have him #1 are just way off imo.

We sent a bunch of low BBIQ chuckers to this tournament and I don't feel like it was even coached to win tbh. Newell is the best NBA talent on the roster. He's legit elite. He should be a lock for top 5. Johnson has a deep bag and great skill but he's a chucker and will need to be reigned in. If he's to be elite he'll need to focus on defense and get stronger as well. Jackson needs more polish and he's a good not elite NBA prospect. I think scouts like the idea of Cody Williams more than the reality.

Almansa joining the Ignite. Gonna be a stacked squad of recruits with him/Buzelis/Holland